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My boyfriend and I are planning on moving to STT. He will be working as a manager and working on yaughts. We have everything lined up as far as his job and a place to stay. I am 6 months pregnant with our first child and will be going down about a month or so after he goes down and checks the hospitals and stuff out. Does anyone have advice for me?
Posted : January 6, 2009 6:52 am
Do you have insurance? Do you plan to have the baby here or where you're from?
Posted : January 6, 2009 7:15 am
Congrats on your pregnancy!
You may want to consider giving birth stateside if it is feasible to do so . Though I seriously considered giving birth on island because of my frequent presence, instead I traveled in and out until a few weeks before delivery. I had a stateside OB and I tucked in there and stayed put right before my due date and was glad I did. Despite an incredibly healthy pregnancy (nothing like a daily morning swim in Magens Bay to keep you hale and hearty !) I hit delivery complications that I'm not sure I would have survived in an island hospital.
I do, however, know many, many women who have successfully given birth on island. My story is just one perspective to consider.
Best,
Islandlola
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Posted : January 6, 2009 2:53 pm
Topic starter
I am from Alaska and I do have medical insurance.
Posted : January 6, 2009 3:25 pm
greets and good afternoon
plenty midwifes on the islands.
bless
Sis Irijah
Posted : January 6, 2009 3:35 pm
Congrats Leigh!
Giving birth stateside without insurance is incredible expensive, I would think on Island would add quite a bit! Does your boyfriend have insurance? If so it may be worth it to make official before the little guy or gal comes!
Good Luck with what ever you decide!
Mike
Posted : January 6, 2009 8:55 pm
Well, I would say that delivering babies is the only good thing this islands is good at...But I would highly recommend having your baby state side...
Posted : January 6, 2009 9:46 pm
Being one that was born here and I know tens of thousands have been, you should have no problem at all. Thee are a lot of competent OB/GYNs here. Including one who taught obstetrics at the university level!
Posted : January 6, 2009 9:50 pm
Ditto Ronnie. You should have no problem having the baby here. Check with your insurance company on how much they will cover because the hospital here is expensive.
Nice first post, Jersey. :-X
Posted : January 6, 2009 10:28 pm
I used to be a La Leche League Leader here in STT and studied midwifery. For my first born, I went to the states, why? I have no clue!
My second was born here in STT at home, but I do believe my midwife is no longer doing home delivery. She does however teach birthing classes at Antilles school as well as Breast feeding classes and Parenting classes and I will be happy to PM you her info. if you would like it.
I am not sure if there is much home birthing going on at this point as I am no longer in the field as I used to be, but my daughter has used our local hospital and did just fine! There were things I didn't like, BUT those same things happen in the states! If you want to do a hospital delivery than I would HIGHLY recommend doing it right HERE! This way you will be close to hubby and if you would like you can have someone in the family come down to be there for you.
Posted : January 7, 2009 6:19 pm
I know a transplant who delivered her son stateside and her daughters here (STT) and was pleased with the local hospital/nurses/doctors. (You know who I'[m talking about EE!) That said, I would not deliver here because I wouldn't trust the neonatal intensive care options in the unlikely event that they would be needed.
Posted : January 7, 2009 8:44 pm
The main thing to consider as with any hospital island or mainland is if they have the facilities to handle things if there is a problem. If not, what will your options be? Knowing ob/gyn nurses and others that work at the hospital, the general opinion is that you are going to do fine as long as there are not major complications. The hospital has all the basic things for delivery. The problem is if you have complications you may have to go to Puerto Rico or or even as far as stateside to find facilities that can give the kind of necessary care. Unlike stateside it is not just an ambulance ride to get a premature baby to a hospital that is equipped to care for it. Since it will be your first delivery I would ask all these questions and more.
Posted : January 8, 2009 6:17 pm
As the spouse of a NICU nurse down here, I can tell you this: if your baby is sick and needs flown out it will cost you a fortune.
Make sure you have Medical Air insurance coverage in you policy, or buy it supplementally (MASA is one of them down here).
Even stateside, sick babies get transferred to different hospitals due to specific medical conditions. Down here the air transfers are very expensive.
Posted : January 8, 2009 6:33 pm
